Meet our staff
All of our staff have various backgrounds and are just as various in their styles of work.
Jessica
Team Lead
Jessica has been working with us since January 2021. She teaches hand building and wheel throwing 7 Week Classes, loads kilns, and does lots of administrative work. She is your go-to girl for any logistical questions at the studio.
Her personal business, JLD Pottery, was founded in the summer of 2020 after graduating with her bachelor's degree in environmental science and biology. After taking a ceramics class, the first Gerald was born. They were not intended to be mass produced or popular at all. They were just a personal idea for her large houseplant collection.
Jessica is best known around the studio for her Geralds. These fun guys with a smile and legs are planter pots, and come in many forms such as classic, mustache, cows and more!
DAVID
Studio Technician
David has been working with us since February of 2022 . As the studio technician, he does many tasks to maintain the studio such as loading the kilns, glaze making, and recycling clay.
David graduated with his bachelor's in math and fine arts in 2020. In college, he took a handbuilding class and focused on sculpture work. David joined the studio first as an intern in June 2021. He did similar tasks that he does now just on a smaller scale. During his free time at the studio, David makes limited, annual batches of pots experimenting with sculpture and forms on the wheel.
David's style is comprised of many different elements, but his meticulousness and experimentation is the most noteworthy quality of his work. He enjoys playing around with surfacing decorating and interesting forms on the wheel.
Abby
Instructor
Abby has been working with us since December of 2022. She teaches 7 Week Classes as well as One Time Workshops. As the studio illustrator, she does various design-based projects.
Abby started her journey at the Pottery Mill as a member in December of 2020 after graduating with her bachelor's in psychology and fine arts. Here, she practiced throwing on the wheel and narrowed in on her style. Being a printmaker and illustrator first, Abby found that sgraffito was the perfect mix between ceramics and drawing. She creates and sells under the name Vervain Artworks online and at in-person markets.
Abby enjoys creating functional pottery which is recognized by her sgraffito work. Her black and white designs are inspired by elements in nature and the supernatural.
elena
Instructor
Elena has been working with us since January of 2024. She teaches 7 Week Classes, One Time Workshops and Parties.
Elena was first introduced to pottery after taking a couple classes in high school. She then decided to pick it up again upon graduating college and joined the studio as a member in 2024. Elena worked primarily on handbuilding projects, and took Chelsi's advanced wheel class to refine her skills and gain confidence on the wheel. She has a small business, Wood Folk Co., where she sells her pottery and hand-crafted goods.
Elena's style is heavily influenced by her walks in the woods with her dog. She loves blending her love for wheel throwing and handbuilding by creating nature-inspired pieces that are first thrown on the wheel and hand-built upon.
MAtt
Instructor
Matt has been working with us since December of 2022. He teaches an advanced and regular 7 Week Class.
Matt started his journey with clay in high school back in '91. He was put in a pottery class and hated it; with the encouragement of his teacher he persisted. Matt continued refining his skills on the wheel through college and focused on the functionality of his pots. Through the years, he had the opportunity to become a member at a few studios in Florida and work with all levels of potters. Eventually, Matt made his way to the Pottery Mill in 2019, and knew immediately it was a special place. After being a member for some years and becoming an instructor at the studio, Matt has been able to grow and develop his pottery to places he didn't think was possible.
Matt is known at the studio for his wheel thrown, large scale pieces. He sprays his glazes to create a seamless ombré of color. His throwing repertoire includes lamps, bowls, vases and more!
Our volunteers
These members lend a hand around the studio. They do tasks such as pugging our recycle, unloading kilns, cleaning, etc.
